Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

General Folklore. 233
writes Mr. Kirk, " throw a hair-tedder, by airt magic,
or by drawing a spicket fastened in a post, which will
bring milk as far off as a bull will be heard to roar."
Their habits were joyous. They constructed harps,
which emitted delicious sounds. They held musical
processions, and conducted concerts in remote glens and
on unfrequented heaths. In their processions they rode
on horses fleeter than the wind. Their coursers were
decked with gorgeous trappings ; from their manes were
suspended silver bells, which rang with the zephyr, and
produced music of enchanting harmony. The feet of
their steeds fell so gently, that they dashed not the dew
from the ring cup, nor bent the stalk of the wild rose.
Their dances were performed in circles, and the spots
marked by their tiny feet were termed " fairy rings."
The unfortunate wight who turned up a fairy-ring with
the ploughshare became the victim of a wasting
sickness : —
" He wha tills the fairy green
Nae luck again sail hae,
An' he wha spills the fairy ring,
Betide him want an' wae,
For weirdless days and weary nichts
Are his till his deein' day."
The protector of the fairy-ring was proportionately
recompensed : —
" He wha gaes by the fairy green
Nae dule nor pains sail see,
An' he wha cleans the fairy ring
An easy death sail dee."
Scottish fairies had a king and queen and a royal
court. The queen originally held the government, but